Dont hate me!

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MRCapps

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I have a newby question. Now that I know what pistol I am going to be picking up, I started looking for a lever action rifle. Now I need more help.

Here is the deal: In about a year or two my wife and I are starting up a Bison (Buffalo) ranch and I highly doubt that my present armory will suffice my needs (Savage .243 and an ole 410 shotgun ;)) I will also be near bear country. basically I need guns that will put down both and since I am getting a .45 pistol, I figured I would look for the same size rifle so that reloading can be done for both with the similar equipment. I was looking at the 45-70 but dont know much about them and wanted to know if 45-70 is the only ammo that can be used in one or would .45 colt be fine too? Thanks guys!
 
Thanks. How are 45-70s in lever action or would I be just fine with a .45 LC rifle?
 
Thats good, I have been looking at the 30-06s a lot but didnt know if it would be enough.
 
MRCapps said:
Thats good, I have been looking at the 30-06s a lot but didnt know if it would be enough.
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Get the barnes triple shot I believe its the TSX. But generally any 180 grain or 220 grain bullet will do the job for bear and bison.
 
I'm no big game expert, but isn't a 45 a wee bit of a poor penetrating round for bear...assuming you want it as a "just in case sidearm"? Great for two legged predators, but not bears.

Why not get a 44 magnum revolver and a 44 mag lever gun? Sounds like a great excuse to justify a couple of awesome guns to your wife, like a super blackhawk and a marlin 1894....along with all the needed reloading supplies! :) Explain to her you'll need a scout scope or some quality peep sights for the lever and some really sweet cowboy leather for the blackhawk!
 
30/06, or even the .308,... with the right bullets, should be able to bring down anything you might hunt in the lower 48 except the big bears. 30/06 can handle a tad heavier bullet and may give you more effective range,...but you still have to do your part.

At closer ranges out to 200,..maybe 250 if you know what you are doing,.. the 45/70 will for sure get it done and do it well,..at longer range,...not so much so.

As good a round as it is,..I'd keep the 45LC to closer ranges in a carbine,..even closer in a handgun,...and limit it to probably black bear and below sized critters.

Just my 2 cents worth,.....ymmv
 
Not in my book. I call it marginal even for bigger black bears. Think of it this way,..the likelihood of running into a big bear,..black or otherwise,... is actually pretty slim,..cats...maybe,..dog's more likely,..mean 2 legged critters probably THE most likley.

If all I had in hand,... if and when faced by a larger black bear,... was a 45LC anything,...it'd be what it'd be.

The 45 LC has taken bear for more years than I have been around. I am just saying that I personally wouldn't go LOOKING for bear with JUST a 45LC on purpose......
 
That'd be a whole new ball game. It will do,...if you will do. .454,..or anything in that league,..is actually pretty potent medicine.

You have to understand,...my personal prefered firearm for bear would be a 105 howitzer if I could get it in a holster.

Now having said that,...I am in black bear country all the time here in Northeast Michigan, the UP,...and up into Ontario. I carry a .44 magnum Ruger SBH often. I occasionally carry a .44 Magnum Winchester 94,...And often I just carry a little J Framed .38 Special or even smaller,...and if in Ontario,...a sharp stick and keen wit.

Point is,..black bear are actually pretty shy. They'll more often run from you, as they are typically more afraid of a human that you are of them. If you have problems with black bear,...you are doing something wrong. Dirty camp,..with dogs,..(dogs=threat),...present a threat to their young,..or stumble upon the bear without warning and cut off its avenue of escape,...you may have problem. It's the rare bear that will actually atttack without provocation.

I have found from many years of woods bumming,..that one is way more likely to run into an aggressive dog,...or the typical dumb a$$ that will give you way much more grief than any bear.

If you're worried about bear,..going where bear are apt to be. Bring enough gun. Keep a clean camp,.and make noise on the trail,......it will serve you just as well.
 
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Hey Mr capps, I was stationed at Eddies Air Patch back in 1974.Is Rosmond still a block long?
 
ForumSurfer said:
I'm no big game expert, but isn't a 45 a wee bit of a poor penetrating round for bear...assuming you want it as a "just in case sidearm"? Great for two legged predators, but not bears.
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How so? If he is getting a Ruger Blackhawk and Marlin 1894 and he is reloading, he can easily load a .45LC just as hot as most factory .44 Magnums
 
Don't hate me!

We don't, MRCapps. Relax, read a few hunting magazines. The .45-70 has killed millions of buffalo in the 1800s, we have better bullets today-Relax. Bears -same answer, but at least a .30-06 with high quality loads like "Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or Nosler Partitions in 180gr. minimum" will extend your safety zone. Marlin Lever actions come in .450 Marlin also, which I think supercedes the 45-70. As for a handgun, the minimum I'd consider would be a Ruger/ S&W/Taurus 44 mag w/ 240/250gr loads and a 6" bbl. The .454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, 460 S&W are all handguns that a allow you to shoot 43 Colt ammo for preactice and carry the other loads in the field. The 460 S&W is one gun I am looking a personally for deer hunting in the SE USA. It hits as hard @ 200 yds as a 44 Mag @ the muzzle! The grips are great for recoil. I shoot a Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5" 44 mag w/ Pachmayr grips for fun! Pachmayr is another name you need to remeber for handgun grips-best ever, have'm on 10 or so. BTW-Retired AF Vet/20 yrs. 2 in Libya/4 in SEA. Good luck-advertise some buffalo meat to forum members!
 
Thanks guys!

First off, yeah, Rosamond is still a whole in the wall. I would guess there are a few more buildings than there were in '74 but I find it hard to imagine that there was much less back then!

SEA you mean south east asia? My first base was Osan in Korea and then on to Yokota Japan. now I am here in paradise at Edwards!! LOL

So, would the 450 marlin be about the same diameter as a 45 lc Blackhawk? I could easily get two diameters for reloading but it would be great to get just one. I talked to my dad last night and he said to look more into the 30-06, 30-30 and 300 magnums. My main source of transport with the ranch will be a horse. my lever rifle will be carried on the saddle and most likely shot from the saddle. With that in mind, I can take the kick of a gun but not too sure how something like a 444 or 450 would handle sitting high on a horse. its not going to be for long range hunts (I have my 243 for tree stands when looking for deer) I figure everything I use this gun for will be within 100 yards.

Thanks again guys and as soon as we get the buffalo going, you guys will know about it!
 
MRCapps said:
My main source of transport with the ranch will be a horse. my lever rifle will be carried on the saddle and most likely shot from the saddle. With that in mind, I can take the kick of a gun but not too sure how something like a 444 or 450 would handle sitting high on a horse.
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Keep in mind, whatever you choose, if you plan to shoot from the back of a horse, make sure the shot counts.

Because it'll probably freak out and throw you off.
 
Keep in mind, whatever you choose, if you plan to shoot from the back of a horse, make sure the shot counts.

Because it'll probably freak out and throw you off.
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Horses can be trained to handle the noise. The cavalry wouldn't have existed otherwise.
 
Correct! I apprecitate the concern for my safety (honestly) but I dont plan to just jump on the back of a wild stalion and start shooting rounds off while bareback! LOL My horses always go through extensive training before i even RIDE them, much less start blastin cannons on em.
 
Pick up a Marlin Guide Gun in the 45-70, it has the muzzle break on it, definitely worthy of Bison/bear! My buddy bought one for his son, has everything you'll need for your ranch wants, if you reload, even better! If this caliber was used successfully on the plains for Bison hunting, you'll fit right in. Good luck
 
For an all around cartridge the .30-06 is pretty tough to beat. A .308 is also excellent but I think the '06 has a slight (maybe inconsequential) edge on it with heavier bullets. Used .30-06 bolt actions and Remington 760/7600's turn up here for reasonable prices all the time. A Marlin .45-70 guide gun is on my wishlist and would definitely work well for your purpose, but the '06 would likely be cheaper and probably do just as well.

FWIW, I've seen .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawks used for around $300. A SBH in .44 Magnum would alos be a good choice.
 
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